THE EXTENSION OF THE CHURCH TO JUDÆA AND SAMARIA (ACTS 8:4 TO ACTS
11:18)
The Christians, scattered by persecution, preach everywhere through
Judaea and Samaria. The places specially mentioned are Samaria,
Azotus, Caesarea, Lydda, the Sharon valley, and Joppa.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FIRST GENTILE CHURCH
1-18. The baptism of Cornelius discussed and approved at Jerusalem.
Those Christians who maintained the need of observing the Ceremonial
Law did not attack the baptism itself because, although they disliked
it, our Lord's command to baptise all nations was too definite to be... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY THAT WERE OF THE CIRCUMCISION] This may either mean the whole
Church of Jerusalem in contrast with Cornelius and his friends, or the
Judaising party in that Church which, perhaps, already existed, as it
certainly did some years later (Acts 15:1; Acts 15:5).... [ Continue Reading ]
The Church of Jerusalem unanimously endorsed Peter's action, doubtless
because the case was an exceptional one, and was not likely to become
a precedent. When St. Paul made a practice of doing what St. Peter had
only done as a rare exception, the controversy was revived (Acts 15).... [ Continue Reading ]
The narrative goes back to Acts 8:1, to trace the chain of causation
which led to the foundation of the first great Gentile Church.
Christianity, it will be seen, spread along the great trade routes
both by land and sea. PHENICE] i.e. Phœnicia.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CHURCH IN ANTIOCH, 35-47 A.D. (ACTS 11:19 TO ACTS 13:3)
19-26. Extension of the Church to Antioch. Admission of Gentile
members. Antioch in N. Syria ranked next to Alexandria, as the third
city in the Roman empire. It was beautifully situated on the Orontes,
about 15 m. from the sea. Its port wa... [ Continue Reading ]
MEN OF CYPRUS AND CYRENE] these would be Hellenists (Greek-speaking
Jews), and therefore presumably more liberal in their views than
Hebrews. To these unnamed Cyprians and Cyrenians belongs the credit of
first preaching systematically to Gentiles. SPAKE UNTO THE GRECIANS]
i.e. to the Greek-speaking... [ Continue Reading ]
The Church of Jerusalem on hearing the news acted with commendable
self-restraint. They did not hastily condemn the new departure, little
as they liked it, but sent a trustworthy person, Barnabas, to examine
into the circumstances upon the spot, and to report.... [ Continue Reading ]
Barnabas, after carefully observing the results of the policy,
approved it (WAS GLAD), and EXHORTED THEM all (i.e. both Jews and
Gentiles) to persevere in their profession of faith, and to form one
united Church. Barnabas thus anticipated Paul in sanctioning the
principle of Gentile equality, which... [ Continue Reading ]
CHRISTIANS] The giving of this name marked the recognition of the fact
that 'the Way' was something more than a new Jewish sect. The
inclusion of numerous Gentiles within the Church, and that without
their becoming Jews, and the preaching of Jesus as one whose authority
was superior to that of Moses... [ Continue Reading ]
The Church of Antioch succours the Church of Jerusalem in time of
famine.
27. Friendly-relations clearly prevailed between Jerusalem and
Antioch, the former Church sending accredited prophets and teachers to
Antioch to assist in the work of evangelisation. Prophets] The gift of
prophecy specially di... [ Continue Reading ]
AGABUS] see Acts 21:10. GREAT DEARTH THROUGHOUT ALL THE WORLD] There
was a severe famine in the fourth year of Claudius, 45 a.d., which
affected both Judæa and Greece. To this St. Luke probably refers.
CLAUDIUS] reigned from 41-54 a.d. The prophecy of Agabus was perhaps
delivered in 44 a.d.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ELDERS] lit. 'presbyters.' These officers are here mentioned for
the first time. All the Apostolic Churches were governed by presbyters
(Acts 14:23), or, as they were sometimes called at first, bishops
(Acts 20:28 : cp. Philippians 1:1). The presbyters ranked next to the
apostles and above the d... [ Continue Reading ]